March 28th, 2012

“I believe that George Zimmerman, the overzealous neighborhood watch captain should be investigated to the fullest extent of the law and if he is criminally liable, he should be prosecuted. But I am urging the parents of Black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was.” — Geraldo

“Racial profiling has to stop, Mr. Speaker. Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum.” — Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) today on the House floor (he was escorted out for breaking the House rule against wearing a hat)

Does wearing a hood

Make you a hood?

Geraldo opined Trayvon’s hoodie was equally at fault

For George Zimmerman’s deadly assault.

Trayvon Martin wore a hoodie walking back from the store;

Congressman Bobby Rush wore one today on the House floor.

Rep. Rush was escorted away because House rules say you can’t wear anything on your head,

But at least he wasn’t for breaking unwritten rules shot dead.

***

Here’s the video of Rep. Rush’s statement on the House floor, and his subsequent removal.

Here’s Geraldo’s statement3/23/12 on Fox & Friends. To be fair to Geraldo, there is one sense in which his statement was correct, especially when considered from his perspective as the parent of a dark-skinned Latino son. It’s wrong to say that the hoodie was “equally at fault” or suggest his parents are to be blamed for allowing Trayvon to go out wearing one. But it’s understandable that Black or Latino parents would worry about their sons and would consider not letting them wear hoodies or other “suspect” clothing. Understandable, but it’s not right that they face that choice and that fear, and that’s what needs to change.